'Tour of a lifetime' - Eddie Jones excited for Japan's Autumn Nations Series tests against Ireland, Georgia and Wales
By Rhys Jones
Published 19/02/2025 at 10:52 GMT
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The Japan Rugby Football Union announced they are set to take on Ireland, Wales and Georgia across three action-packed weekends in November's Autumn Nations Series. Eddie Jones has called it "a tour of a lifetime" as they look ahead to a November 8 date in Dublin with Ireland before facing Wales in Cardiff. The Autumn Nations Series returns in 2025, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Eddie Jones has called Japan's upcoming Autumn Nations Series matches "a tour of a lifetime" as they prepare to face Ireland, Wales and Georgia in November.
The Brave Blossoms will travel to Dublin on November 8 to take on Ireland, returning to Aviva Stadium for the first time in four years before heading to Cardiff to face Wales.
They finish their tour against Georgia at a venue yet to be decided.
"We’re delighted to be able to finish the year with three great Test matches. In terms of their work rate in attack, Ireland are the most consistent team in the world and their defence is world-class," Jones said in a statement.
"Playing Wales in Cardiff is one of the great experiences in world rugby - nestled in the centre of the city, the atmosphere is arguably the best in the world."
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"Meanwhile, Georgia is by far the most improved team in the world - historically strong forwards are now aided by increasingly adventurous and skilled backs.
"This will be a fitting way for the team to finish the year with what will be a tour of a lifetime."
Japan famously beat Ireland for the first and only time at the 2019 Rugby World Cup on home soil, dazzling the men in green in a 19-12 win.
Their visit to Cardiff will be their third meeting with the Welsh in 2025, following Wales' two-match tour to Japan in July.
That trilogy will be hugely important for both sides as they sit next to each other in World Rugby's rankings, at No. 12 and 13 respectively.
The final match against Georgia will be the eighth meeting between the two sides, and Jones will be looking to avenge the 23-25 loss at home last year in Miyagi.
Former England coach Jones returned to Japan for his second stint as coach in January last year.
They have lost seven of his games in charge while suffering heavy defeats to England, France and New Zealand.
They have the chance to get back to winning ways when they face struggling Wales twice in July.
How to watch the Autumn Nations Series
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
To find out where your local establishments showing TNT Sports are, use our Pub Finder tool.
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What channels does TNT Sports offer and on which platforms?
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
Depending on your subscription and device, fans can enjoy access to the following TNT Sports channels:
- TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4 - in standard definition and high definition, plus six red-button channels.
- TNT Sports Ultimate will offer fans coverage of selected events in up to 4K picture resolution with high dynamic range (HDR) - representing colours and action in almost life-like quality - and Dolby Atmos sound.
- TNT Sports Box Office, offering both subscribers and non-subscribers pay-per-view access to some of the most exciting events in the calendar.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
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Stream the Gallagher Premiership, Autumn Nations Series 2025 and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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